From the book my grandfather produced, I confirmed the prohibition’s arcana.

“The prohibition is third-stage... Yes! Two have been lifted, so one remains.”

“Indeed. This prohibition demands a sacrifice.”

“A sacrifice meaning...”

“A human.”

So I could guess how to break the final prohibition.

“We must use a sacrifice to dispel it.”

“Has the boon that tames dragons advanced further than this?”

“Ah, ‘Monster Taming’ is a lie.”

Grandfather stared at me.

“......”

“Heh heh.”

I forced a harmless smile, and he asked in disbelief:

“Then is your boon only the ability to read ancient tongues?”

“That’s a lie too.”

“......Is there any truth in your words at all?”

Heh heh, heh...

I laughed awkwardly and then turned my head. His displeased gaze jabbed at my cheek.

“My real boon is ‘Archive.’”

“Archive?”

“It lets me read the world’s records and identify the protagonist who can alter fate. In truth, in ancient times... ancient?”

I flinched, furrowing my brow. “That is it.”

“What is?”

“I know the final form of ‘Archive’!”

In my ancient self—Elrote—I used it against Inolax. I restructured reality’s text to change the world’s course. My boon rendered the appointed hero’s buff useless. Crafted from priests’ and apostles’ blood and flesh, it was the supreme boon.

‘Even Grimie knew of that ability.’

He must have feared me. So he set every trap to shatter me—ensuring I could never break the final prohibition.

‘But how did he learn of it?’

Did the Chronot Council’s records mention it? No—that was strange. Grimie, Astra’s precious eldest son, shouldn’t have been at that raid. Yet he joined deliberately, losing both legs to seize those archives.

‘As if someone told him those records were necessary...’

“Hēra.”

I quietly summoned the guardian. Hēra bowed.

“Yes, Messiah.”

“Do you think... besides me, anyone else can commune with the guardian stars?”

“There is no record of it. However...”

Hēra narrowed her eyes. “Among the guardian stars, one exists.”

“A guardian star?”

“Yes. The Lions, for instance. They are spirits sent by the gods to govern humanity.”

“But neither Sairon nor the other Lions spoke to me.”

“That is due to divine constraints. They dared not resist the gods and so were bound.”

“Then there is one Lion unbound?”

“Yes.”

Hēra’s gaze sharpened. “One who came to this world to become a Lion, but whose base, unscrupulous nature prevented him—”

“......”

“Thus when the gods sealed the priests’ and Lions’ power, this one escaped unscathed.”

“Could that guardian star be...?”

Hēra and I spoke in unison: “Inolax.”

“Inolax.”

If Inolax were Grimie’s guardian star—if she, who knows all and can speak with the stars, aided him—then...

‘It’s possible.’

Grimie’s raid wasn’t accidental; he went there knowing he’d gain power. I bit my lip.

“Mission change.”

“......Yes?”

“What?”

The guardians and my brothers frowned.

“Inolax may be bound to Grimie.”

“What...!”

“If Inolax—who knows all ancient lore—serves him, we are doomed.”

I exhaled sharply. “Then reclaiming my power must come first.”

Grimie, I know all the power you wield. This time, you will suffer. Grandfather’s voice broke:

“Can’t you even explain to ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ me?!”

“If I explain, can you decide?”

“What?”

“I know it’s a tragic and terrible choice—but you must make it.”

“What do you mean?”

I furrowed my brow and met his eyes. “I’m asking if you can abandon your eldest son, Grandfather.”

“......”

I closed my eyes and began to tell him everything. As the story deepened, his face grew pale. He, too, had suspected Grimie’s monstrous deeds—but never imagined he would destroy the house and slaughter his kin.

When I finished, Grandfather said nothing.

“You must decide.”

“......”

“Grandfather.”

“......Return to the manor.”

In a trembling voice, he concluded, “Let us return to the estate.”

A few days later.

At Prince Salvatore’s front. His army had encamped near the capital, among ruined palace grounds. Inside the tent, nobles gathered, restless.

“Count Aveque has defected.”

“Only him? What of Marquis Vega—!”

“The Empress Dowager’s faction is stronger than expected. And Prince Alexis’s forces are beyond our control—”

Bang!

Salvatore slammed the table. “So what’s the plan?”

“......”

“......”

The nobles fell silent. “You simply complain without strategy!”

Consort Oselia’s face darkened. Then:

“Prince Alexis’s imperial forces are attacking! The Duke of Biferi advances from the rear!”

The nobles cried out. “W-artificial beast-folk! We need artificial beast-folk!”

“Where is Duke Grimie?!”

“I’ll dispatch couriers immediately!”

The nobles erupted. After they scattered to stop Alexis, only Salvatore and Oselia remained.

“Do you truly intend to abandon Grimie at such a critical moment?”

Salvatore rose, hands clasped behind his back. “We need dragons to turn the tide.”

“But can we trust Erilot Astra? You know how close she was to the Dowager and Alexis.”

“She has not acted for them in days past.”

She was mercilessly calculating. ‘She waits in silence to judge the situation.’ Daimond would do anything for his children—even break his daughter’s will to protect her.

‘A letter came from Daimond pledging to join us if we forsake Grimie.’

If we abandoned Grimie, the balance would shift.

“Will you truly trust them? If she enters our ranks as a spy—”

“Do you have any better idea?!”

“......!”

Salvatore grabbed Oselia’s shoulder fiercely. “Because of having a foolish mother, my only choice remains that girl.”

“S-Salvatore....”

“Mother, go to Princess Anatoli. We need her to deal with Grimie.”

The former Princess Anatoli’s boon was prized by the Emperor: by touch, she could alter a plant’s molecules, turning food into medicine or poison. She had disposed of countless imperial enemies this way.

“I will invite her for tea with Grimie.”

“And what of the artificial beasts?”

“If we gain dragons, we need not artificial beasts!”

“......”

“As long as we eliminate the risk of Grimie’s dragons, this war ends—with my victory.”

“If Anatoli hates Erilot, she may not aid us if she learns the truth.”

“If Daimond pledges his daughter, he will come barefoot.”

Oselia sighed. “Very well... I, Salvatore—”

“If you speak idle words, be silent.”

Oselia’s face turned ashen; she left the tent. By chance, she met someone entering.

“Prince Edrofe. I never thought your house would side with Salvatore.”

“Madam, I do not think it your place to accuse the mother holding Father hostage.”

“For your son’s sake, I’ll forgive your rudeness.”

Oselia shot Vincent a glare and passed. He entered the tent. Salvatore glanced at him.

“How is your father?”

“His skin is petrifying.”

“His corruption accelerates.”

Vincent ground his teeth. His father, feigning loyalty to the Emperor, had accepted Grimie’s boon—and was turning beastly. Salvatore tossed him a vial. With a clink, Vincent caught it.

“What is this?”

“Medicine to slow your father’s monstrosity—from Grimie himself.”

“Once this war ends, you truly intend to heal him?”

“If you aid me.”

Salvatore smiled thinly, chin in hand. “Your role is crucial. Use your to read the hearts of Erilot and Daimond.”

“Will I meet them?”

“They will join us... if only Grimie is out of the picture.”

“You abandon Grimie Astra?”

“Isn’t that to your advantage? He is the one who turned your father into a beast.”

Vincent clenched his fist. Salvatore shrugged.

“You will soon converse with father and daughter.”

Several hours earlier, a bold message came: ‘I wish to meet Salvatore to discuss House Astra’s gains from this battle.’

Half an hour before my meeting with Salvatore.

Draped in a pitch-black robe, I glared at Alexis.

“I told you, you needn’t come!”

I tried to lower my voice, but it kept rising. “You’re at the front—how can you tell me to stay put?”

“And if I led my men out in person, what then?”

Salvatore would stop at nothing to slay Alexis. The Dowager and the Empress attacked him freely only because Alexis was their trump card. If he died, most nobles would flock to Salvatore. Winning the battle without an heir gains nothing.

“I’ll escort you—let’s slip into Salvatore’s camp.”

“......”

“You can cloak your form and voice with your boon.”

“I said you’ll send me yourself.”

Alexis looked down. I bit my lower lip. “He’ll propose marriage to gain my power.”

“......”

“Even for strategy, can you let that happen with goodwill?”

“I can.”

“Can you fight properly after sending me off?!”

“You’ll return.”

“......”

“I know you’ll come back.”

I slipped a hand to his waist. “Don’t get hurt.”

“You, please.”

“Even now you can’t speak nicely!”

“You.”

“This is real!”

Alexis pulled me close, resting his chin atop my head. “Promise me you’ll return unharmed.”

“...I promise.”

“That’s enough.”

“You fool....”

We stared at each other, hearts pounding. As we drew near—

“Really, enough!”

“Never thought I’d agree with Balzac—Erilot.”

“Why don’t you two just drift apart?”

A cold voice interrupted. ‘Right, my brothers are here.’ I cleared my throat and prepared to step back. If only Alexis would let go—he held tight. He watched our eldest brother fiercely.

“I’ve never feared a royal before.”

“......Is that objectionable?”

“Certainly not.”

Father bared his eyes, and Alexis looked away. “I heard you flirted endlessly with Beltri in public.”

Father’s eyes widened. My brothers stared, and I gasped. “Flirted?”

Father closed his mouth with a single gulp of his Adam’s apple. I turned to Alexis:

“How did you know?”

“When Marquis Devon Roche was imprisoned, you asked me to watch him. Duke Taloff told me everything.”

“You flirted with Beltri?”

“Father hated it, yet you did it alone.”

“Did you?”

“......”

Father said nothing. Alexis met his gaze expressionlessly.

“And ended up punched by Father, they say.”

“Don’t presume to know my father!”

“Dad, people are listening!”

“They will listen anyway....”

I sighed and followed Father, waving to Alexis once more—unseen by Father. He strode ahead at astonishing speed.

“Father, wait... you’re too fast.”

“Tell me: is it me, or him?”

“...Pardon?”

Father wheeled on me, glaring past to Alexis. “Which is it: your age, or him?”

“......”

“I never wanted to ask such a petty question!”

“Well, it’s because....”

Ahead was Father. Behind, my boyfriend. ‘Harder than meeting Salvatore!’